Move to Bellingham? (Seattle, Yakima, Ellensburg: school, to live, friendly)

[Beverly Cornell]

Living in the Desert!@#$%^&*
So I have been reading these postings and very confused! Where is there a good place to live, In need of some GREEN GRASS!!! I am orginially from PA. and been in AZ for 18yrs. Right about now I need some GREEN!! So anyone have a clue what part of the US is good for a single female in her late 50's and likes to be out doors year round. Not a fan of SNOW, ICE....Please needs some good imput. Also work in Hospital as a Unit Sec. and would need work. Thanks BJC

[susansolin]

Bellingham is definately very green and lush
The rain is mostly a misty drizzle, you don't even need an umbrella. In the winter it is normally in the 40's but is wet so the cold kind of goes into your bones. I think this is the humidity people talk about. Having said that I almost never wore anything warmer than a jeans jacket.
Summers are gorgeous, sunny, coolish (70's), and the days are long because the sun goes down late.
Each year I lived there (6 years) there was about a week in the summer where it would get hot (80's) and humid. Coming from Wisconsin, I know humidity. There was just enough (that week each summer) to make me really appreciate how good the weather was.

[Beverly Cornell]

Susansolin, Thank you very much for your response. I will do some more reseach on the area I really need to check into cost of living there. Have to see how many Hospitals there are and what housing cost. By what you say about the weather I believe I could handled that. Thanks Again
Beverly Cornell

[FLW1938]

I have a grandson starting at Western Washington University this month. after a lot of research he decided it was right for him
Hope things work for him. He didn't like the hot, humid Mississippi summers.

[west seattle gal]

He will love it!!

[boiselover]

had a friend move to bellingham from boise and promptly returned after awhile stating the folks up there weren't friendly-this is in comparison to boise which is well known for friendliness though

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by FLW1938

I have a grandson starting at Western Washington University this month. after a lot of research he decided it was right for him
Hope things work for him. He didn't like the hot, humid Mississippi summers.

He'll love it! And WWU is a great school--lots of interesting programs, and the option to design your own major. There are special-interest dorms for students to live with others who share their academic interests; this is a great way to break down the impersonal nature of college and to make friends. More universities need to do that. Your grandson made a great choice! Just make sure he's prepared for a cold winter.

[Ruth4Truth]

What about the cultural life? Does B'ham have any that isn't student-oriented? What is the music scene like? Are there summer festivals, like Pt Townsend has? Is there much going on at all?

[RotseCherut]

Originally Posted by boiselover

had a friend move to bellingham from boise and promptly returned after awhile stating the folks up there weren't friendly-this is in comparison to boise which is well known for friendliness though

I have to agree Boiseans are much friendlier than Western Washingtonians as a whole.. I don't know about the East Washingtonians as I haven't lived there since I was a kid.

Bellingham is known as the land of subdued excitement.. One thing about Bellingham people though is they are much friendlier when they get drunk. I've never been in a town where I have had so many people buy me beers.

However, I remember in Boise I decided to go bar hopping for my birthday and every bar I went to gave me free drinks.. By the time I was done I had about 6 free drinks in me.. I doubt I could have pulled that off here in Seattle

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

What about the cultural life? Does B'ham have any that isn't student-oriented? What is the music scene like? Are there summer festivals, like Pt Townsend has? Is there much going on at all?

Bellingham has all kinds of cultural things going on that are not related to the school, ranging from music to theatre to art. I can't tell you what the music scene is like, since I'm an out of it old fart. My son and his wife( and the grandkids) live there, and there are summer festivals in Bellingham, fairs, parades, etc. Port Townsend has a lot going on for a town of 5000, but Bellingham has 80,000 residents.